Hemet Police Urge Drivers to Protect Pedestrians During October Safety Month
Hemet is a city in Riverside County, California. October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Hemet Police Department issued a reminder on Oct. 11 asking drivers to take extra precautions to protect people walking.
Sgt. Matt Chavez said the department is committed to reinforcing everyday safety actions such as slowing down, following the posted speed limit, staying alert and yielding to people in crosswalks. He noted that drivers have an outsized role in keeping pedestrians safe because people walking do not have the same protections as occupants inside vehicles.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 19 pedestrians are killed in traffic crashes every day in the United States. In 2024, an estimated 7,080 people walking were struck and killed by vehicles, including 1,090 in California alone.
The department offered five tips for drivers: follow the speed limit, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic, around schools and in neighborhoods where children are present; slow down at intersections and be prepared to stop for people at marked and unmarked crosswalks; use extra caution at night or in rain or fog; avoid distractions such as using a mobile device; and drive sober. The program is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
(Source: Hemet Police Department)
Source: Hemet Police Department
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 人行横道俯拍（旧金山 Market 街），Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0，作者 Dllu
